Steerable laser probe

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end; 
 an actuation channel of the handle; 
 an optic fiber guide of the handle; 
 an actuation lever having an actuation lever distal end and an actuation lever proximal end wherein the actuation lever proximal end is disposed in the actuation channel and wherein the actuation lever distal end extends out from the actuation channel; 
 a pivot pin guide of the actuation lever; 
 a wire proximal loop housing of the actuation lever; 
 a pivot pin housing of the handle; 
 a pivot pin, the pivot pin disposed in the pivot pin housing and the pivot pin guide; 
 a single housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end, the housing tube fixed to a portion of the handle; 
 a wire having a wire distal end and a wire proximal end, the wire disposed in the housing tube wherein the wire distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the wire is fixed to the housing tube; 
 a wire proximal loop of the wire, the wire proximal loop disposed in the wire proximal loop housing wherein the wire proximal loop is disposed around a portion of the actuation lever and wherein the wire proximal loop is fixed in the wire proximal loop housing; and 
 an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end, the optic fiber disposed in an inner bore of the handle, the optic fiber guide, the actuation channel, and the housing tube wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the optic fiber is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube and wherein actuating the actuation lever distal end away from the handle proximal end is configured to rotate the actuation lever about the pivot pin in a first direction and retract the cable relative to the housing tube and curve the housing tube and the optic fiber. 
 
     
     
       2. The laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising: a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness; and
 a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. 
 
     
     
       3. The laser probe of  claim 2  further comprising: a plurality of apertures of the first housing tube portion. 
     
     
       4. The laser probe of  claim 3  wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is a slit. 
     
     
       5. The laser probe of  claim 3  wherein at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures are configured to separate at least one solid portion of the housing tube. 
     
     
       6. The laser probe of  claim 3  wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is laser cut into the first housing tube portion. 
     
     
       7. The laser probe of  claim 3  further comprising:
 an arch of at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
 
     
     
       8. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the housing tube is manufactured from a polymer. 
     
     
       9. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the housing tube is manufactured from a metal. 
     
     
       10. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the housing tube is manufactured from a metal alloy. 
     
     
       11. The laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first housing tube portion of the housing tube manufactured from a first material; and 
 a second housing tube portion of the housing tube manufactured from a second material. 
 
     
     
       12. The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the first housing tube portion has a first stiffness and the second housing tube portion has a second stiffness and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. 
     
     
       13. The laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising: a light source interface. 
     
     
       14. The laser probe of  claim 13  wherein the light source interface is a standard light source connector. 
     
     
       15. The laser probe of  claim 14  wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector. 
     
     
       16. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the handle is manufactured from a metal. 
     
     
       17. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a rotation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin in the first direction is configured to curve the housing tube and the optic fiber at least 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
     
     
       18. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a rotation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin in the first direction is configured to curve the housing tube and the optic fiber at least 90 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end. 
     
     
       19. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a rotation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin in a second direction is configured to straighten the optic fiber. 
     
     
       20. The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a rotation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin in a second direction is configured to straighten the housing tube.